Knockdown shipping-crate.



W ENGLIGH KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CRATE. I APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 19, 190e.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Fig. 2.

WENZEL ENGLIGH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed October 19, 1908. Serial No. 458,388.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WENZEL ENeLIcH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Shippingrates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in knockdown shipping crates, which consists in the provision of folding sides and ends so arranged that the entire crate can be folded and reconveyed to the shipper.

The object of my invention is to construct a shipping crate, its sides and ends hinged to the bottom, the top member hinged to the ends, and provided with fastening devices by which the same is held in rigid position when in crate form, the several parts forming the crate arranged to be folded so that it can be reconveyed to the shipper inv compact form.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same when in folded position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the locking pin made use of in securing the top to the side walls. Fig. 5 is a detail enlarged view of a portion of the bottom and side, showing the double hinge made use of.

In the construction of my invention I provide a bottom 6, two end sections 7 and S, two side sections 9 and 10 and a to 11. To the bottom 6 is secured the sides 9 y means of double swing hinges 12 which is for the purpose of permitting the side sections 9 to e aid inwardly as shown by light dotted lines in Fig. 3, or outwardly as shown by heavy dotted lines (see Fig. 3), this position being adaptable for cleaning the interior and bottom of the crate. The end section 8 is hinged to a strip 13 attached to the bottom 6, the opposite end 7 hinged to a narrower strip 14. The object of these strips is to permit the end section 7 to fold downwardly on the end section 8.

To the up )er ends ofthe end sections 7 and 8 is hinged t ie top 11 so arranged that when folded will assume the position as shown in The side sections 9 and 10 are provided at the upper edge with sockets 15 through which are passed the pins 16, said pins first passing through the opening 17 formed in the top, the said locking pins have proliections 18 formed on the bottom ends and a collar 19 at the top. When the said pins are inserted through the openings 17 and the sockets 15, the projections 18 by means of the slit 20 formed in the pin will spread outwardly and contact with the under surface of the sockets, locking the same. The pins are attached to the top by a chain or the like 21, so they will not become disconnected from the crate and lost. lhe bottom 6 is provided with openings 22 in which are placed sleeves, the same being in such position as to be in direct alinernent with the openings 17 formed in the top when the same is in folded position, so that the said pins or a set of the same may be passed through the openings 22 and lock the crate in a folded position. The to a 11 is provided with a door 23 through whic i the fowl may be removed from the crate and said door is rovided with a latch 24 by which it is ocked.

This crate is especially designed for the purpose of shipping fowl and when empty can e folded by first removing the pins 16, folding the side walls 9 and 10 inwardly as shown by light dotted lines in Fig. 3, then collapsing the remainder of the crate as shown in Fig. 2. The set of pins 16 is then inserted through the openings in the bottom and thc crate is ready to be reconveyed back to the shipper. In this manner a number of folded crates can be used in the same amount of space which the crate when in an extended position would occupy.

Having fully described my invention what I claim is:

In a knockdown shipping crate, the combination with a suitable solid bottom of a pair of side sections formed of strips hingedly secured to said solid bottom by two-way hinges, of a pair of end sections formed of strips hinged y mounted to the bottom and arranged to swing in the same direction; a top formed of strips hingedly connected to the end sections; a solid door located in a solid portion formed in the top; a pair In testimony whereof, I have signed my of split looking pins arranged to pass name to this speoiiieation7 in presence of two 10 through the top and engage in sockets l subscribing witnesses` formed on the side sections so as to lock ,f l i 5 the Crete in an upright position and to WENZEL Ek GLR/H' register with an opening formed in the bot- Witnesses: tom so as to hold the Crate in a looked posi- ALFRED A. EIoKs,

tion when folded, substantially as specified. VALTER (l. STEIN. 

